Urbanization, rural mobility, and new class relations in Darjeeling, India

Journal article


Brown, Trent, Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira and Scrase, Timothy Joseph. (2016). Urbanization, rural mobility, and new class relations in Darjeeling, India. Critical Asian Studies. 48(2), pp. 235 - 256. https://doi.org/10.1080/14672715.2016.1164392
AuthorsBrown, Trent, Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira and Scrase, Timothy Joseph
Abstract

Throughout the developing world, rapid urbanization is leading to new social relations and new conflicts between urban and (formerly) rural populations. This paper examines this process of change through a detailed examination of changing rural–urban relations in the town of Darjeeling, in the Himalayan foothills in Eastern India. In Darjeeling, increased rural mobility, accelerated rural-to-urban migration and the increased participation of rural people in local politics have led to major changes in the town. We demonstrate that the upward trajectory of rural classes who were previously subordinate is leading the more established urban residents to feel threatened, resulting in a redrawing of local political issues along rural–urban lines and a reconfiguration of class consciousness and social relations. The urban middle class, whose opportunities in the town have stagnated or declined, see rural migrants as a source of competition for increasingly scarce resources and blame them for the overall decline in the quality of urban life. They mobilize their (predominantly cultural) capital to reinforce markers of cultural distinction between them and the rural migrants and to delegitimize the political gains they have made. We argue that rural–urban conflict is emerging as the chief source of tension in the town and that this tension is largely grounded in class issues.

Year2016
JournalCritical Asian Studies
Journal citation48 (2), pp. 235 - 256
PublisherRoutledge
ISSN1467-2715
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/14672715.2016.1164392
Scopus EID2-s2.0-84961393090
Page range235 - 256
Research GroupSchool of Arts
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Place of publicationUnited Kingdom
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/85q1y/urbanization-rural-mobility-and-new-class-relations-in-darjeeling-india

Restricted files

Publisher's version

  • 134
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

Globalised dreams, local constraints: Migration and youth aspirations in an Indian regional town
Brown, Trent, Scrase, Tim and Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira. (2017). Globalised dreams, local constraints: Migration and youth aspirations in an Indian regional town. Children's Geographies. 15(5), pp. 531 - 544. https://doi.org/10.1080/14733285.2016.1274948
Beach boys do it too: Subculture and commoditised desire in a transnational tourist site in Kerala, South India
Green, Belinda, Scrase, Tim and Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira. (2017). Beach boys do it too: Subculture and commoditised desire in a transnational tourist site in Kerala, South India. Asian Studies Review. 41(1), pp. 99 - 116. https://doi.org/10.1080/10357823.2016.1264364
Young men, education and ethnicity in contemporary Darjeeling
Scrase, Timothy J., Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira and Deuchar, Andrew. (2016). Young men, education and ethnicity in contemporary Darjeeling. South Asia Research. 36(1), pp. 98 - 114. https://doi.org/10.1177/0262728015615487
Beyond the metropolis - Regional globalisation and town development in India : An introduction
Scrase, Timothy, Rutten, Mario, Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira and Brown, Trent. (2015). Beyond the metropolis - Regional globalisation and town development in India : An introduction. South Asia : Journal of South Asian studies. 38(2), pp. 216 - 229. https://doi.org/10.1080/00856401.2015.1031459
Darjeeling re-made : The cultural politics of charm and heritage
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira and Scrase, Timothy. (2015). Darjeeling re-made : The cultural politics of charm and heritage. South Asia : Journal of South Asian studies. 38(2), pp. 246 - 262. https://doi.org/10.1080/00856401.2015.1031203
Dispossession, placelessness, home and belonging: an outline of a research agenda
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira and Lahiri-Dutt, Kuntala. (2012). Dispossession, placelessness, home and belonging: an outline of a research agenda. In In R Ganguly-Scrase and K Lahiri-Dutt (Ed.). pp. 3 - 29 Ashgate Publishing Limited.
Neoliberal development and displacement: Women's experiences of flight and settlement in South Asia
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira. (2012). Neoliberal development and displacement: Women's experiences of flight and settlement in South Asia. In In R Ganguly-Scrase and K Lahiri-Dutt (Ed.). pp. 73 - 94 Ashgate Publishing Limited.
Neoliberal development, port reform and displacement: The case of Kolkata and Haldia, West Bengal, India
Hill, Douglas and Scrase, Tim. (2012). Neoliberal development, port reform and displacement: The case of Kolkata and Haldia, West Bengal, India. In In R. Ganguly-Scrase and K. Lahiri-Dutt (Ed.). Rethinking Displacement: Asia Pacific Perspectives pp. 31 - 51 Ashgate Publishing Limited.
Globalization and occupational displacement: Indian artisans in the global economy
Scrase, Tim. (2012). Globalization and occupational displacement: Indian artisans in the global economy. In In R. Ganguly-Scrase and K. Lahiri-Dutt (Ed.). Rethinking Displacement: Asia Pacific Perspectives pp. 115 - 129 Ashgate Publishing Limited.
Dispossession, placelessness, home and belonging: an outline of a research agenda
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira and Lahiri-Dutt, Kuntala. (2012). Dispossession, placelessness, home and belonging: an outline of a research agenda. In In R Ganguly-Scrase and K Lahiri-Dutt (Ed.). pp. 3 - 29 Ashgate Publishing Limited.
Dispossession, human security, and undocumented migration: narrative accounts of Afghani and Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira and Sheridan, Lynnaire. (2012). Dispossession, human security, and undocumented migration: narrative accounts of Afghani and Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers. In In R Ganguly-Scrase and K Lahiri-Dutt (Ed.). pp. 251 - 274 Ashgate Publishing Limited.
Cultural Politics in the ''New'' India: Social Class, Neoliberal Globalization, and the Education Paradox
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira and Scrase, Timothy. (2012). Cultural Politics in the ''New'' India: Social Class, Neoliberal Globalization, and the Education Paradox. In In L. Weis and N. Dolby (Ed.). Social class and education: global perspectives pp. 198 - 212 Routledge.
Dispossession, human security, and undocumented migration: narrative accounts of Afghani and Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira and Sheridan, Lynnaire. (2012). Dispossession, human security, and undocumented migration: narrative accounts of Afghani and Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers. In In R Ganguly-Scrase and K Lahiri-Dutt (Ed.). pp. 251 - 274 Ashgate Publishing Limited.
Neoliberal development and displacement: Women's experiences of flight and settlement in South Asia
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira. (2012). Neoliberal development and displacement: Women's experiences of flight and settlement in South Asia. In In R Ganguly-Scrase and K Lahiri-Dutt (Ed.). pp. 73 - 94 Ashgate Publishing Limited.
Globalization, neoliberalism and middle-class cultural politics in Kolkata
Scrase, Timothy J. and Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira. (2011). Globalization, neoliberalism and middle-class cultural politics in Kolkata. In In H. Donner (Ed.). pp. 117 - 138 No Code.
Privatization, profit and the public: The consequences of neoliberal reforms on working lives
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira and Scrase, Timothy J.. (2011). Privatization, profit and the public: The consequences of neoliberal reforms on working lives. In In A. Baviskar and R. Ray (Ed.). pp. 300 - 323 Routledge.
Home is a distant land
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira and Dutta, Nilanjan. (2010). Home is a distant land
Fair Trade in cyberspace: The commodification of poverty and the marketing of handicrafts on the internet
Scrase, Timothy J.. (2010). Fair Trade in cyberspace: The commodification of poverty and the marketing of handicrafts on the internet. In In T. Lewis and E. Potter (Ed.). Ethical consumption: A critical introduction pp. 54 - 70 Routledge.
Home is a distant land
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira and Dutta, Nilanjan. (2010). Home is a distant land
From marginalized worker to impoverished entrepreneur: The globalization of the trade in crafts and its impact on Indian artisans
Scrase, Timothy Joseph Leslie. (2009). From marginalized worker to impoverished entrepreneur: The globalization of the trade in crafts and its impact on Indian artisans. In In M. Gillan and B. Pokrant (Ed.). Trade, Labour and Transformation of Community in Asia pp. 102 - 126 Palgrave Macmillan.
Globalisation and the middle classes in India: The social and cultural impact of neoliberal reforms
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira and Scrase, Timothy J.. (2008). Globalisation and the middle classes in India: The social and cultural impact of neoliberal reforms Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203884393
Minority Women and Forced Migrations: A Comparative Study of Flight and Settlement Experiences of Women Refugees in India and Australia
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira and Julian, Roberta. (2008). Minority Women and Forced Migrations: A Comparative Study of Flight and Settlement Experiences of Women Refugees in India and Australia. In In C. H. Ng and P. Renshaw (Ed.). INDIA-AUSTRALIA RELATIONS : CONVERGENCES AND DIVERGENCES pp. 70 - 89 Shipra Publications.
The politics of rising expectations: Middle class experiences of economic restructuring in India and Australia
Scrase, Timothy Joseph Leslie and Robinson, John. (2008). The politics of rising expectations: Middle class experiences of economic restructuring in India and Australia. In In D.Gopal (Ed.). India-Australia Relations: Convergences and Divergences pp. 216 - 237 Shipra Publications.
Privatisation and labour relations in Asian ports: The case of Port Klang, Malaysia
Hill, Douglas P., Wells, Andrew and Scrase, Timothy J.. (2008). Privatisation and labour relations in Asian ports: The case of Port Klang, Malaysia. In In J. Reverley and M. Tulls (Ed.). Port Privatisation The Asia-Pacific Experience pp. 94 - 109 Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.
Survival in the era of the post-multifiber arrangement: Experiences of garment workers in India
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira. (2008). Survival in the era of the post-multifiber arrangement: Experiences of garment workers in India. Journal of Third World Studies. 25(2), pp. 39 - 57.
Ethnographies of gendered displacement: Women's experiences in South Asia under neo-liberal globalisation
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira and Vogl, Gillian. (2008). Ethnographies of gendered displacement: Women's experiences in South Asia under neo-liberal globalisation. Women's Studies International Forum. 31(1), pp. 1 - 15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2007.11.007
Hegemony, globalisation, and neoliberalism: The case of West Bengal, India
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira and Scrase, Timothy J.. (2008). Hegemony, globalisation, and neoliberalism: The case of West Bengal, India. In pp. 184 - 200 Routledge.
Women and forced migrations in Asia: Ethnographies of neoliberal globalisation
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira and Vogl, Gillian. (2008). Women and forced migrations in Asia: Ethnographies of neoliberal globalisation. Women's Studies International Forum. 31(1), pp. 1 - 15.
The Hegemony of English in India
Scrase, Tim. (2007). The Hegemony of English in India. In English as the Global Language: Perspectives and Implications pp. 175 - 196 ICFAI University.
Victims and agents: Young people's understanding of their social world in an urban neighbourhood in India
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira. (2007). Victims and agents: Young people's understanding of their social world in an urban neighbourhood in India. Young: Nordic journal of youth research. 15(4), pp. 321 - 341. https://doi.org/10.1177/110330880701500401
Globalization, NGOs, international volunteers and the development process in Asia
Scrase, Tim. (2007). Globalization, NGOs, international volunteers and the development process in Asia. International Conference of the Asia Association for Global Studies. Japan: Global Studies Press. pp. 172 - 189
Economic liberalization and the ideology of work reforms in India: interpreting middle class responses to new economic policies
Scrase, Tim. (2006). Economic liberalization and the ideology of work reforms in India: interpreting middle class responses to new economic policies. Association of Industrial Relations Academics of Australia and New Zealand (AIRAANZ) Conference. Australia: University of South Australia. pp. 481 - 491
Constructing middle class culture: Globalization, modernity and Indian media
Scrase, Timothy J. and Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira. (2006). Constructing middle class culture: Globalization, modernity and Indian media. In In B. Holden and T. Scrase (Ed.). tmedi@sia: Global media/tion in and out of context pp. 44 - 61 Routledge.
The 'new' middle class in India: a re-assessment
Scrase, Tim. (2006). The 'new' middle class in India: a re-assessment. Biennial Conference of the Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA). Australia: Asian Studies Association of Australia & Australian National University. pp. 1 - 20
Neo liberal Globalisation and Women's Experiences of Forced Migrations in Asia
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira, Vogl, Gillian and Julian, Roberta. (2006). Neo liberal Globalisation and Women's Experiences of Forced Migrations in Asia. Australia: Queensland University of Technology. pp. 1 - 18
Neoliberal Development and its Implications for the Garment Industry and its Workers in India: A case study of West Bengal
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira. (2006). Neoliberal Development and its Implications for the Garment Industry and its Workers in India: A case study of West Bengal. Biennial Conference of the Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA). Australia: Asian Studies Association of Australia. pp. 1 - 20
Infiltrators, Illegals and Undesirables: Gender and forced migration in South Asia
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira. (2005). Infiltrators, Illegals and Undesirables: Gender and forced migration in South Asia. The Australian Sociological Association (TASA) Annual Conference. Australia: Sociological Association of Australia. pp. 1 - 11
Globalisation, Liberalisation and the Transformation of Women's Work in India
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira and Vandenbroek, Diane. (2005). Globalisation, Liberalisation and the Transformation of Women's Work in India. The Australian Sociological Association (TASA) Annual Conference. Australia: Sociological Association of Australia. pp. 1 - 10
Development and displacement: Women's experiences of Flight and Settlement in South Asia
Ganguly-Scrase, Ruchira. (2005). Development and displacement: Women's experiences of Flight and Settlement in South Asia. Women in Asia Conference. Australia: Asian Studies Association of Australia.
Crafts, Consumers and Consumption: Asian Artisanal Crafts and the Marketing of Exotica
Scrase, Tim. (2005). Crafts, Consumers and Consumption: Asian Artisanal Crafts and the Marketing of Exotica. The Australian Sociological Association (TASA) Annual Conference. Australia: Sociological Association of Australia. pp. 1 - 10